History of Dildarnagar Kamsar
Dildarnagar Kamsar, also known as Kamsar-O-Bar, is a fertile region located along the banks of the Ganges and Karamnasa rivers. Its history dates back centuries, with the original name "Kamsar" believed to have come from "Kamesaradih," the area where its founder, Raja Narhar Khan, established his fort. Over time, the region grew and was referred to as Kamsar-O-Bar.
Early Beginnings and the Settlement of Kam Dev and Dham Dev
The history of this region traces back to the reign of the Mughal emperor Babur in 1530, when two rulers, Raja Kam Dev and Raja Dham Dev, arrived with their armies to settle here. Kam Dev, originally the ruler of the Pahargah estate—which encompassed present-day Gwalior, Morena, Shivpuri, and Jhansi—later became the ruler of Fatehabad in Fatehpur during Babur’s rule. After their defeat in the Battle of Khanwa and the Battle of Madarpur against Babur, the family migrated to this region. Initially, they settled in Sakardih near Gahmar, but Kam Dev's family later moved to Dalpatpur, now known as Reotipur. From there, the family expanded, establishing over a hundred villages across Zamania and the surrounding areas, including parts of present-day Ghazipur, Buxar, Kochas, and Kaimur districts. Meanwhile, Raja Dham Dev's descendants founded Gahmar, Chausa, Bhabua, Chainpur, Kudra, and 84 additional villages near Gahmar.
Raja Narhar Khan's rise and adopting Islam
In Kam Dev's or Rao Dalpat's family, one of his fourth-generation grandsons, named Raja Narhar Dev Rao, was influenced by Islam and became a Muslim in 1542 keeping his name Raja Narhar Khan. He was the eldest and most responsible member of his family and was entrusted with the management of the jagir and Sarkar of the region, which elevated him to the status of a nobleman. His father, Puranmal Rao Sakarwar, had seven sons, of whom Narhar was the eldest. However, after Narhar's mother's death, Puranmal married two other women after coming to Ghazipur and had six more sons. As a result, Narhar was neglected from his childhood, and due to disputes, he did not get along with his stepmothers.
The legend says that Narhar and his wife were childless. One day, while his wife was sitting sadly on the veranda of her house, she saw a Sufi saint named Makhdum Sayyid Shah Juned Qadri. The saint asked for rotis (flatbreads) and inquired about her problem. After hearing about their childlessness, she gave him five rotis, and he blessed them with the gift of five children. His prayer and blessing worked, and they later had five sons in the 1540s, named Jahangir Khan, Barbal Khan, Baran Khan, Usman Khan, and Khan Jahan Khan. They witnessed many other miracles performed by the Sufi saint, which inspired them to explore Islam.
Narhar recited the "kalma" at Sher Shah Suri's court, where he had gone to pay the lagan (revenue) of his realm. He adopted Islam and was given the title of Khan-e-Alam for his bravery in 1542, and he became Raja Narhar Khan. This decision, however, was not well received by his father and brothers. Due to a dispute between Narhar and his younger brothers, his father, Puranmal, gave Narhar a share of land near Kamesaradih and effectively disowned him
Later, Raja Narhar Khan established a new jagir and regained control over his ancestral areas. He build his fort at Kamesaradih, from which the place and the Kamsar Pathans and Kamsar derived their name. He also retained his title of Raja. Raja Narhar Khan was greatly influenced by Islam and the Sufis, and his elder son, Jahangir Khan, also became a revered Sufi saint. His dargah (tomb) is located at Akhini village in Kamsar.
Narhar's descendants went on to establish many villages along the banks of the Karamnasa and Ganga rivers. One of his descendants, Qasim Khan, founded Karmahari, but his descendants later migrated to the Daltonganj and Palamu regions, founding 11 villages there. They are known as Kamisara Pathans, a subgroup of the Kamsar Pathans. The second son of Puranmal from his second wife, Ratan Deo Rao, founded Basuka, while his other five sons established Reotipur, Sherpur, Semra, and many other nearby villages.
Establishing the Kamsaar ki Jageer
The Kamsaar Jagir was established in the early 16th century, initially comprising the mauzas of Reotipur, Sherpur (Qariat Reotipur), Suhawal, Ramval and Bara, along with several other villages that now form Dildarnagar Kamsar and its surroundings. The jagir’s origins are linked to Puranmal, a descendant of Kam Dev, who was a notable figure in the region. His son, Raja Narhar Khan, succeeded him as the regional chief. Although Raja Narhar Khan embraced Islam, he continued to lead the Kamsaar Jagir under the Sur Empire and retained authority even after the Mughal Empire rose to prominence. The Kamsar territory held strategic importance due to its proximity to Sasaram, which served as the capital of the Sur Empire. Under his leadership, the jagir underwent a period of consolidation and became a key administrative center. However, according to the Ain-i-Akbari, the Kamsar Jagir was still listed as a Bhumihar possession, as most inhabitants were Sakarwar Rajputs and Bhumihars, descendants of Kam Dev.
As recorded in the Ain-i-Akbari, the estate had a cultivated area of 66,548 bighas with a revenue assessment of 2,760,000 dams. It supported a military force of 50 cavalry and 5,000 infantry. Ali Quli Khan Zaman, the governor of Zamania, oversaw the Subah of Jaunpur and Ghazipur Sarkar. He appointed Asad Ullah Khan as his deputy in Zamania. The Kamsaar Jagir was recognized as a prominent zamindari, but after Ali Quli Khan Zaman's rebellion against Akbar, he was killed in 1567. Following his death, the Sarkar was handed over to Munim Khan.
The descendants of Raja Narhar Khan expanded the jagir significantly, with his great-grandson Quttul Khan establishing the Taluka of Seorai, which included 52 villages. Serving as a Dewan of the Subah, Quttul Khan constructed a fort and an Eidgah, making Seorai a prominent center during Akbar’s reign. However, following his death in a conflict with Man Singh Rai of Reotipur, his cousin Raja Daud Khan avenged him and took control of Dewaitha (formerly Daudpur) along with the Kamsar region, succeeding Quttul Khan.
class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Daud Khan further strengthened the estate's political clout, and at its zenith, Kamsar-O-Bar spanned half of Zamania tehsil as well as parts of Ramgarh and Nuaon tehsils. Notable villages like Mircha and Dildarnagar also rose to prominence during this period. The family maintained strong relations with Hetam Khan of Hetampur, the jagirdar of Chandauli, which led to the settlement of Hetam’s descendants in Mania. In later years, the parganas of the jagir appeared to maintain harmonious relationships.
The Kamsar Jagir expanded significantly under Narhar Khan’s leadership, particularly during the reign of his great-grandson, Quttul Khan, who established the Taluka of Seorai, which consisted the jagir of 52 villages during Akbar 's later region. The estate flourished and became an important administrative center during Akbar’s reign. Quttul Khan’s cousin, Raja Daud Khan, avenged his death in a dispute with Man Singh Rai of Reotipur, and later took control of Dewaitha, further strengthening the Kamsar region’s influence.
Throughout the years, the family established several villages along the banks of the Ganga and Karamnasa rivers, with notable settlements in Dildarnagar, Mircha, and other surrounding areas. The family’s influence grew, with strong political ties to other important regions like Hetampur, whcih was established by Hetam Khan a jagirdar of Chandauli during Narhar Khan. His descendants after losing their jagir and their fort at Hetampur migrated to their relatives in Mania village of Kamsar. further bolstering the power of the Kamsar jagir. A image architectural remain of Hetampur fort is given below
Decline of Kamsar Jagir
By the late 17th century, the centralized authority of the Kamsar Jagir began to weaken, and the estate fragmented into smaller zamindari estates. Despite this decline, many villages, including those in Dildarnagar Kamsar, remained important centers of local governance.
During the British Raj, the Kamsar estate’s influence continued to fade as the region was already fragmented. Some parts of the estate, including Qariat Reotipur, Dewaitha, and Khizirpur, retained significance. The local zamindars and chiefs of the region were involved in the 1857 rebellion, joining the forces led by Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur. The Kamsar region became a part of the larger struggle against British rule, with local leaders like Meghar Singh of Gahmar and Reotipur playing pivotal roles.
Comments
Post a Comment